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World's cheapest car hits Indian streets
AFP on Yahoo ^ | 7/17/09 | Phil Hazlewood

Posted on 07/17/2009 2:15:13 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

MUMBAI (AFP) – The world's cheapest car, the Tata Nano, hit the streets on Friday, as the first customer got the keys to a vehicle that its makers hope will transform travel for millions of Indians.

Ashok Raghunath Vichare took delivery of a lunar silver Nano LX model, one of three cars handed over in person by Tata Motors boss Ratan Tata at a city dealership.

The 59-year-old customs official from Mumbai said only that he was "very happy" to have got his hands on the car, as he was mobbed by cameras and press photographers.

His family, who accompanied him to the showroom, said their first drive would be to a nearby Hindu temple to have the vehicle blessed.

Mumbai bank worker Ashish Balakrishnan, who took delivery of a sunshine yellow LX model, said he could not wait to "joyride on the Bandra-Worli Sea-Link", a newly opened 5.6-kilometre (3.5-mile) bridge in the city.

"This is my first car. The price was a major factor," the 29-year-old told reporters.

The third car, also a lunar silver LX, was handed over to Kores India Ltd, an office products-to-outsourcing firm.

Analysts said the delivery was a positive step, after a land dispute forced the firm off the site of a factory it was building to produce the cars in eastern India, fuelling concerns about its ability to meet demand on time.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: automakers; cheapest; india; nano; nono; tata; tatanano
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To: GonzoGOP; ExTexasRedhead

ROTFLOL Good one


21 posted on 07/17/2009 2:31:08 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: GonzoGOP

O-43 MPH (70 km/h) in 14 seconds...

Top Speed 75 MPH (120 km/h)

ZOOM!!!!!!


22 posted on 07/17/2009 2:31:21 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (There's something socialist in the neighborhood, who ya gonna call? MITTBUSTERS!)
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To: Tail Gunner John

Good one LOL


23 posted on 07/17/2009 2:31:37 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: RobRoy
I’d be a little nervous about the freeway though.

Remember the Paul Shanklin song that Rush used to play to the tune of Elvis' "In the Ghetto"? IIRC, the song was about a Yugo. I wonder if the Tata has more power than the 2-cylinder Yugo. If not, I would be very afraid about merging onto a highway.

24 posted on 07/17/2009 2:31:56 PM PDT by neocon1984
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To: neocon1984

I have to admit that I’d take one of these over a Smart Car based on the one picture.

But I see this car compared to other cars as I see a scooter compared to motorcycles. And you don’t take scooters on freeways (well, the Helix and a couple of others, but you get my drift).


25 posted on 07/17/2009 2:34:16 PM PDT by RobRoy (This too will pass. But it will hurt like a you know what.)
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To: RobRoy

Me too. I remember when they first brought the six cylinders out by Toyota (a piece of junk at that time) I thought I was going to get killed entering the freeway. I still wish I had kept my 69 Firebird from that sale. Such power.

To be fair; I am not really a car buyer. I buy what I like. Like V8 engines(better engine IMO)and lots of french whore goodies on the inside. I buy a car every 15 years.


26 posted on 07/17/2009 2:35:47 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Does it have AC? Try driving it in Houston today.


27 posted on 07/17/2009 2:35:56 PM PDT by 353FMG (Death is Life without Freedom.)
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To: 353FMG

LOL You might be stuck to your seats or the car might not run due to overheating.


28 posted on 07/17/2009 2:36:46 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: Paladin2

I used a currency converter I found on the Internet and got
185,000 rupees for deluxe model = $3,800.00 US dollars.


29 posted on 07/17/2009 2:36:47 PM PDT by mrvirgo
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To: NurdlyPeon
The three wheel bike thing is the most used contraption in that part of the world. You should ride in one . LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM

30 posted on 07/17/2009 2:36:58 PM PDT by org.whodat
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To: org.whodat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM


31 posted on 07/17/2009 2:37:14 PM PDT by org.whodat
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To: NormsRevenge

Do they make them as ugly as sin on purpose?

I’m trying to imaging people taking their vacations in these pitiful little crapmobiles.

They kill each other before they reach the county line.


32 posted on 07/17/2009 2:37:32 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: ejonesie22
OK thanks it was that 0-43 number i was remembering. But could you imagine taking this Obamamobile out on I-90. The wind from the trucks blasting past you would dump you into the nearest pot hole. Heck the I-Pass and Garmin would fill up the entire passenger seat.
33 posted on 07/17/2009 2:39:00 PM PDT by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world, and they are all out to get me.)
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To: neocon1984
Remember the Paul Shanklin song that Rush used to play to the tune of Elvis' "In the Ghetto"?

And they drove with pride.
60 miles to the gallon with their knees on their chest
trying to save a little bit for all the rest
In a Yugo.
34 posted on 07/17/2009 2:42:03 PM PDT by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world, and they are all out to get me.)
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To: 353FMG
Does it have AC? Try driving it in Houston today.

No, the AC is an option available where the AC motor will need to be towed behind this vehicle, in a tiny, cute little trailer which plugs into the rear bumper of the vehicle.

With this model there is actually another option of a propeller, mounted on the roof, kind of like on a beanie hat, with ducting that blows down on the occupants.

35 posted on 07/17/2009 2:43:29 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: GonzoGOP
I have a BMW 750 with a V12, so it would amount to a dinghy for my car.

My lawn mower has a Honda 2 cyl engine with 25 HP, this thing is a 2 cyl with 34 HP...

No thanks...

36 posted on 07/17/2009 2:43:43 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (There's something socialist in the neighborhood, who ya gonna call? MITTBUSTERS!)
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To: dragnet2

I used to have 6-60 A/C on my vehicle. This thing apparently doesn’t (Hint: It’s too slow).


37 posted on 07/17/2009 2:45:32 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: dragnet2

Mine was a serious question and I would like to get a serious answer, even it it’s laughable.


38 posted on 07/17/2009 2:48:52 PM PDT by 353FMG (Death is Life without Freedom.)
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To: NurdlyPeon
It’s still a big step up from an ox-drawn cart for millions of people.

Yes but as time goes by, their government will demand much smaller vehicles, reducing their size and weight considerably.


39 posted on 07/17/2009 2:49:59 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: ejonesie22

Your lawn mover is what 160 cc? This one is a 623 cc engine. Big difference.


40 posted on 07/17/2009 2:56:00 PM PDT by Rookie Cookie
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